6.6. - Use of Antibiotics

1. ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE 101: HOW ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE ON FACTORY FARMS CAN MAKE YOU SICK

What to do. Live-saving drugs are starting to lose their effectiveness. Why? Because factory farms are using antibiotics "non-therapeutically" to promote growth but not to treat sick animals. The FDA reports that 80 percent of antibiotics in the US are sold for agricultural purposes. Antibiotic resistant (AR) bacteria comes from farm animals, to humans via food and is becoming a major cause of illness for vulnerable populations, and can lead to death. We need to start holding farms and owners of livestock accountable. The FDA does a bad job at monitoring consumer products, what makes you think they will do a good job at monitoring farms. It is quite scary, and makes me want to do more research about the farms I get my meat from. Or possibly cut meat out all together. 

2. NEARBY LIVESTOCK MAY RAISE 'SUPERBUG' RISK

Thankfully I do not live near livestock. According to the article those who live near livestock are at high-risk of getting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. (MRSA) This strain so harsh that it is resistant to common anti-biotics. The article didn't examine a real cause and effect assessment, just an association between livestock and MRSA. More research should be done before more people get sick, and our bodies become more and more resistant to medicine. 

3. SCIENTISTS DISCOVER THAT ANTIMICROBIAL WIPES AND SOAPS MAY BE MAKING YOU (AND SOCIETY) SICK  

We have all been exposed to the chemical triclosan in order to reduce microbial load. Through anti-microbial wipes, or gels, or even on cooking products. This article is suggesting that we are getting sick because we are not building up a resistance to common everyday bacteria. "Most people who use antibiotic soap are no healthier than those who use normal soap. AND those individuals who are chronically sick and use antibiotic soap appear to get SICKER." 

4. A REPORT ABOUT THE NEW PRACTICE OF INCORPORATING ANTIMICROBIALS INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF HOSPITAL FURNISHINGS

This article talks about anti-microbial use in consumer products. Similar to the above article, there is speculation that it is actually doing harm than good. These products can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance, engender a false sense of security with reduced attention to cleaning or disinfecting surfaces.  I think that more research and tests should be done to weigh the actual costs and benefits of these type of furnishing improvements in hospitals. 

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